Walter Engelund

Walter (Walt) Engelund serves as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs in the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters and provides executive leadership and execution for a portfolio of 10 space technology programs with an annual investment value of over $1 billion. STMD invests in technologies for NASA and commercial space needs that span the full range of technology readiness levels (TRLs), from fundamental laboratory experiments to full scale space flight demonstrations.

Prior to his appointment with STMD in 2019, Engelund spent 30 years at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, most recently as the Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate, where he led an organization that was responsible for developing technologies for human spaceflight and robotic exploration. He also previously served as the Chief Engineer at NASA Langley and was responsible for technical oversight for Langley’s diverse research and development portfolio, spanning aeronautics, human and robotic space technologies, and Earth science and remote sensing systems. 

He is a recognized expert, reviewer, and consultant for hypersonic flight and planetary entry systems for NASA and other government agencies. He is a Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the recipient of numerous NASA Achievement Awards including NASA’s Exceptional Engineering Achievement and the Exceptional Achievement Medals, and the Meritorious Presidential Executive Award.